Radio slot machine



J. PINTO RADIO SLOT MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 14, 1928.

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J. PINTO RADIO SLOT MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1927 6- Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Aug. '14, 1928.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RADIO SLOT MACHINE.

Application filed. August 9, 1927. Serial No. 211,699.

My invention relates to coin-controlled mechanism applied to radio receiving sets.

One of the purposes of my invention is to provide a novel coin-controlled mechanism which is notable for its simplicity and for its suitability to the closing of an electric circuit.

A further purpose is to provide for the temporary electro-magnetic closing of a circuit to start the time-controlling mechanism and to hold the circuit closed mechanically.

A further purpose is to interrupt the tube circuit in a coin-controlled radio receiving apparatus during the initial operation and until the coin is deposited in the coin box.

A further purpose is'to close a time-control motor circuit and a lamp circuit independently by coin-controlled mechanism.

A further purpose is to close radio circuits momentarily by coin-controlled mechanism and to use that.momentary closure as a means for electro-magnetie closure of the circuits which arethen mechanically timecontrolled.

A further purpose is to give definite information of the approach of the end of the time for which the coin has prepaid. so that.

an additional coin can be inserted to maintain operation.

A further purpose is to provide sufficient angular spacingof two operating positions of hand-turned coin mechanism so that timecontrolled mechanical contact making devices are brought into play.

A further purpose is to replace coin-controlled electromagnetic contact making devices by gravity operated mechanical contact-retaining mechanism having time-controlled release.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have preferred to illustrate my invention by one complete structure only, among a number in which my invention may appear. selecting for my preferred form one which is practical. efiicient. reliable and relatively inexpensive and which at the same time well illustrates the principles involved.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a cabinet in which my mechanism may be housed with a diagrammatic illustration outside to show in a general. way the circuit-controlling mechanism contained within the cabinet.

Figures 2. 3 and 4 are s de elevations of coin-controlled mechanism showing the same parts in different positions.

Figure 5 is a section upon line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation showing circuit-controlling mechanism thrown into operation by the coin-controlled mechanism. I

Figure 7 is a. top plan view of the structure seen in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective showing the structure seen in Figures 6 and7.

In the drawings similar numerals indicate like parts.

In coin-controlled operation of receiving radio sets intended to permit a customer to listen in on radio at will, several difierent circuits require control at the same time. They must be closed by the coin-controlled mechanism but be capable of being held in closed position by time-controlled means.

Complying with the requirements of the statute, I have illustrated the best form of my invention known to me and shall proceed to describe it as an illustration only and not in limitation.

The cabinet 10 (Figure 1) is a casing merely within which are mounted coin-controlled mechanism 11, a r' dio receiving set 12 and time-controlled mechanism 13' by which the use of the set may be permitted under proper time control.

The coin is intended to enter through a slot 14 and to pass ultimately through channel 15 to a locked receiving box 16 from which the coins may ultimately be removed;

The radio receiving set requires no further discussion than to say that it may be of any suitable character having adjusted dial or dials 17 any number of tubes 18 and such other mechanism and apparatus as the character of the receiving sets may require,

so that proper reproduction may be had through horn 19.

Taking up the coin-controlled mechanism first shown diagrammatically at 11 in Figure 1 reference is had to Figures 2, 3, 4

and 5.

In these figures. a supporting plate 20 carries a coin tube 21 of which it may con stitute one wall. The tube directs the coin into a slot 22 within a rotary coin holder 23. The coin fits between two relatively tapered surfaces 24 and 25, so that a partial projection of the coin 26 is provided at 27.

The projecting portion engages a swinging catch 28 which is pivoted at 29.

The swinging catch 28 would normally operate by gravity but 'failure to operate properly because of bearing resistance or other cause is guarded against by the use of a retracting spring 30 fastened at any suitable point 31 and engaging an extension 32 of the catch.

The slot within the rotary coin holder is extended at a smaller width as at 33 to provide a space within which a smaller coin than that intended or an object other than the coin, if smaller, will pass into this space and will correspondingly not project sufiiciently to reach and operate the catch 28.

The limitation of slot size will of course protect against accidental insertion of a lar er coin.

he rotary coin holder is operated by a handle 34 and turns a lever 35 whose resetting function will be later described.

The purpose of the coin-controlled mechanism is to form a temporarily closed electric circuit between conductors 36 and 37. This is done by a wiped contact between them, comprising a pivoted contact lever 38 connected with conductor 36 and a co-operating spring contact member 39 connected with conductor 37. The lever 38 is theoretically capable of gravity operation about its pivot 40 but it is desirable to avoid sticking of this, by use of a retracting spring 41 connecting between an anchorage 42 and the extension 43 of this lever.

In position of non-use, contact lever 38 is raised as seen in'Figure 2 and is held in raised position by a pin 44 upon the catch arm 28. When rotation of the coin-holding member in clockwise direction in the figures causes the catch lever 28 to swing in counterclockwise direction in these"figures, the pin 44 passes to the right to a point where the lever is relatively recessed at 45 so as to permit the contact arm 38 to swing in clockwise direction to the position seen in Figures 3 and 4, in which positions the end 46 of the contact lever engages and wipes against the spring contact member 39 ensuring continu ing contact. The pin 44 engages with a. wall 47 of the recess to hold the lever 28 in the position seen in Figure 3.

As previously explained, the contact made is intended to be a brief one. In point of time, the connection is broken when cam arm 35 movable with the disc engages a lock or pin 48 upon the extension 43 of lever 38.and turns the lever 38 to the position seen in Figure 1. It is held in this position by pin 44 on catch 28.

Recurring again to Figure 1:--

Outside current is supplied ,at 49 and 50, which, in the position of the parts seen in Figure 1, is cut off from the tube circuit and from the operating mechanism by two;

circuits are completed from battery 51. One flows through conductor 52, winding 53 of electro-magnet 54 and conductor 55, and the other flows through conductors 56, 57, winding 58 of electro-magnet 59 and conductor 66. Both electro-magnets are therefore energized and continue to be energized until the lever 38 is returned to the position seen in Figure l.

Electro-magnet 54 operates spring retracted switch lever 61 to open the switch at 62 and to close the switch at 63. This closure of the switch completes another local circuit from battery 51 through conductors 56 and 64, winding 65 of electromagnet 66 and conductor 67, lever 61 and conductor 68. Energization of electro-magnet 59 operates spring retracted lever 69 to open a circuit at 70.

Energization of electro-magnet 66 operates sprin retracted lever 71 pivoted at 72 so as to c ose two open switches at 73 and 74 respectively, connecting conductors 7 5 and 76 by the one switch and 77 and 78 by the other switch.

As hereinafter more fully indicated the lever 71 is held in position to close the two switches 73 and 74 by mechanical means, operatin upon the extension 79 of this lever beyond t e pivot point. When switches and 73 are both closed, a circuit is completed from battery 80 through conductor 81, lever 69, switch 70, conductor switch 73, conductor 76, tubes 18 and conductor 82 to energize the tubes. correspondingly, when switches 62 and 74 are both closed, a circuit is completed from terminal 49 through conductor 83, switch 62, lever 61, conductor 77, switch 74, conductor 78, motor 84 and conductor 85 to terminal 50, energizing the motor.

An indicator 86 is connected to any suitable circuit, such as the motor circuit through a contact device 87 and conductors 88, 89 and 90 so that near the end of the operation provided for by one coin payment the indicator is energized advising that another coin be inserted if it be desired to maintain operation of the device.

In 0 eration as thus far disclosed, current is applied to the terminals 49 and 50. When a 00111 is inserted and electro-magnets 54 and 59 are energized, the effect of the energization of electro-magnet 54 is to open the switch 62 and close the switch 63 which energizes the electro-magnet 66 and closes switches 73 and 74. The lever 71 is mechanically held in this position as will hereinafter appear. The three local circuits above remain closed until rotation of the coin holder (through lever 35) breaks the connection when these circuits will be opened.

Closure of switch 73 does not meantime pass current through the tubes for the reason that the tube circuit has been opened protectively at 70 and will stay open until the circuits local to battery 51 are opened.

The closure of switch 74 likewise does not immediately pass currentthrough the motor because the circuit is opened at 62 and remains open likewise until the circuits local to battery 51 are opened.

.When the circuits local to opened all of the electromagnets will be deenergized, switches 62 and 70 will be closed and switches 73 and 74 would be opened immediately but for the mechanical means for holding them closed as hereinafter described. Closure of switches 62 and 70 now completesthe tube and motor circuits and connects the radio so that its loud speaker circuit will reproduce any production for which it is tuned by dials 17. This continues until the motor has run its predetermined course. Near the end of this course warning is given of this fact by indicator 86, so that another coin may be deposited if desired. The switches 73 and7-1 are opened at the end of the motor run by mechanical release of the mechanical holding means by which they have been maintained in closed position. Under the requirements of the statute that I show the best form known to me I have not only illustrated the best diagrammatic connections above but in Figures 6, 7 and 8 I illustrate the best mechanical means known to me of carrying out the diagrammatic showing. The operating parts diagrammatically disclosediin Figure l'are located on a shelf 91. The motor is provided with the usual governor 92 and rotates a shaft 93 connected by suitable reducing gearing with a rotary disc or plate 96 through suitable gearing some below but much above the shelf, I have shown one among very many forms, using spiral gears, shafts, worms, and worm gears, connecting shaft 94 with a shaft 95 by which disc 96 is rotated.

The lever is here shown as comprising a shaft 98 in bearings 105, carrying separate arms 71, 72 on one side of it and extension 79 on the other. The ,arms are insulated at 99 from flexible connections 100, by which spring retracted arms 101 are lifted and are allowed to fall. These arms rock shafts 102, 103, pivoted in bearings 1 and carrying respectively terminals 7 5 and 77 connected with conductors 75 and 77. These contacts make connection respcctivelywith contacts 76', 78' which are connected with conductors 76 and 78.

The composite lever 71 carries upon shaft,

base blocks 108.

battery 51 are back the lever 110 pivoted at 11 and spring retracted to the right in Figure 8 by spring 112.

As soon as the extension 79 is raised above the end 113 of this lever the lever turns to a position where the lever toplies beneath the extension and supports it mechanically holding the lever in the position into which it has been set by energization of the electromagnet 66. The lever is held mechanically in this position until rotation of the cam in the direction of the arrow causes a pin 114 carried by the cam to engage a projection 115 upon the arm 110. As the shaft 95 and the pivot 111 are not in line the pin pulls the lever above with it for a short distance and then disengages from the projection 115 allowing the lever to return to the position seen in Figure 8.

The arm 110 is' prevented from undue movement to the right in Figure 8 by a stop 116 which may be adjusted in its position about pivot 117 by means of a handle 118.

At the time that the arm 110 is set back to the position shown in Figure 8 an extension 79 of the lever 71 correspondingly is released from its support by this arm. The surface of the cam under the extension 7 9 is high enough to hold the lever in sufliciently raised position to keep the switches 73 and 74 closed. The opening of these switches takes place by reason of the reducing diameter of the cam during the subsequent rotation to the position shown in Figure 8. 7

At any 1 redetermined time before the position in igure 8 is reached, a switch 119 is closed to energize the signal (light the lamp) 86. This is accomplished in the illustration by projection 114 engaging lever 120 upon shaft 121 rocking in bearings 122 whereby contact arm 123 is swung about to a position where it closes spring contact 121 against a contact 125. The lever system which is described is spring retracted to the position seen in Figure 8 by a spring 126 extending between lever 120 and any fixed point or support upon base 108.

The speed of the motor is controlled by a lever' arm 127 secured to a shaft 128 and turned by handle 129. The shaft 128 carries a cam 130 from which depends a bracket .131 carrying brake material 132 adapted to engage with a brake drum 133 upon shaft 93. In operating the device the energization of 'electromagnet 66 lifts the extension 79 far enough for arm 110 to slip under it. The extension is maintained in raised position until the arm is replaced to the position seen in Figure 8 by engagement of pin 114 with lug 115 when the extension 79 trips on the cam and is controlled by the contour of the cam edge from that point to the end of the run, at which the switches 73 and 74 are opened by lowering of the extension. Near the end of the run shaft 121 is oscillated to close switch 119 for a short time so asto energize the signal 86. p

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain part or all of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l.- In a device of the character described, a rotary coin-carrying disc, a swinging catch adapted tobe engaged by the coin therein, a switch-closingspring retracted lever to shift with movement of the catch and a lever movable with the disc and engaging the lever to reset the lever in switch disconnecting position.

2. In a device of the character described, a coin-carrying disc, a swinging catch engaged by the coin, a projection -on the catch, a switch-closing lever normally retained in one position by the projection and permitted to turn when the catch has been moved by the coin, so as to cause closure of contacts by the lever, an extension from the lever back of'its pivot point, a spring tending to hold it in switch-closing position, a projection from the extension, and a lever carried by the coin disc'adapted to engage the extension and to turn the lever so that the projection upon the catch will again hold it in switch disconnected position.

3. In a device of the character described, a coin-carrying disc, a swinging catch engaged by the coin, a projection on the catch, a lever normally sprmg-pressed'against the projection and permitted to shift when the catch has been moved by the coin, to close a. circuit, so as to permit energization of an electro-magnet, a member carried by the coin carr ing disc, and an extension of the lever bacIr of the iv'ot adapted to be engaged by the mem er upon rotation of the com carrying disk whereby the lever is reset,

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of electro-ma'gnets, coin-controlled circuits energizing said electro-magnets, normally closed switches opened by energization of said electro-magnets, a radio circuit opened by the opening of one of said switches, amotor circuit opened by the opening of the other of said switches, a third electro-magnet energized by energization of one of the other electro-magnets, normally open switches in the radio and motor circuits respectively, closed by energization of said third electro-magnet, spring-opening means for said switches, automatic mechanical means for holding said switches closed and motor-operated means for tripping the automatic holding means and for finally releasin the switches.

5. 1%1 a coin-controlled radio exhibiting machine, a radio having a plurality of tubes, a tube circuit therefor having .two switches in the tube circuit, one normally closed and the other normally open, a motor having a motor circuit, two switches in the motor circuit, one normally closed and one normally open, coin-controlled means for opening the closed switches in each circuit and closing the open switches therein, and mechanical means released by operation of the motor for maintaining the normally opened switches closed until the motor completes a predetermined run.

6. In a coin-controlled radio exhibiting machine, a radio having a plurality of tubes, a tube circuittherefor having two switches in the tube circuit, one normally closed and the other normally open, a motor, a motor circuit including two switches, one normally closed and one normally open, coin-controlledelectromagnetic means for temporarily opening the closed switches and closing the open switches in the circuits, released by continued operation of the coincontrolled means, automatic mechanical holding means keeping both circuits closed, and motor-controlled mechanical means for releasing the holding means and substituting motor-controlled closure for the switches.

7. In a coin-controlled radio exhibiting machine, a radio having a plurality of tubes, a tube circuit therefor having two switches in the tube circuit, one normally closed and the other normally open, a motor, a motor circuit including two switches, one normally closed and the other normally open, coincontrolled electro-magnetic means for temporarily opening the closed switches and closing the open switches in the circuits, released by continued operation of the coincontrolled means, a resiliently pressed arm adapted automatically to the hold the normally open circuit closed, a motor-operated release for the arm, and motor-o erated cam means for controlling the close position of the normally open switches after release of the arm.

8. In a coin-controlled radio exhibiting machine, a radio having a plurality of tubes, a tube circuit therefor having two switches in the tube circuit, one normally closed and the other normally open, a motor, a motor circuit having two switches in the motor circuit, one normally closed and one normally open, coin-controlled electro-magnetic means for temporarily opening the closed switches and closing the open switches in the circuits, spring-pressed means for holding the normally open switches closed after the coincontrolled temporary means has been rcleased, and spring-pressed means for continuing to hold the normally open switches closed released from the switches after a predetermined time of motor control.

9. In a coin-controlled radio exhibiting machine, a radio havin a plurality of tubes, a tube circuit therefor including a normally open switch, a motor having a motor circuit including a normally open switch, coincontrolled means for temporarily closing the open switches therein and mechanical means released by operation of the motor for maintaining the normally open switches closed until the motor completes a predetermined 10. In a coin-controlled radio exhibiting machine, a radio having a a tube circuit therefor including a normally open switch, a motor having a motor circuit including a normally open switch, coincontrolled electro-magnetic means for temporarily closing the open switches therein released by movement of the coin-controlled and mechanical means released by operation of the motor for maintaining open switches closed until the motor completes a predetermined run. I

11. In a coin-controlled radio exhibiting machine, a radio having a plurality of tubes, :1 tube circuit therefor having two switches in the tube circuit, one normally closed and the other normally open, a motor, a motor circuit having two switches in the motor circuit, one normally closed and one'normally open, coin-controlled electro-magnetic means for opening the normally closed circuits-and closing the normally open circuits, released when the coin-controlled means ceases to plurality of tubes,

the normally operate, resiliently pressed means for mechanically holding the normally open switches closed and motor-operated means for controlling the length of time the switches remain closed. 7

12. In a device of the character stated, a switch-closing device comprising an electromagnet, a shaft, an armature for the electromagnet, arms mounted upon the shaft upon opposite sides thereof, oscillatory switches resiliently held open, connections between the levers on one side of the shaft and said switches, mechanical means for holding the lever on the other side of said shaft to position tohold the switches open and motorcontrolled means for releasing said holding means and finally releasing the lever to open the switches.

13. In adevice of the character stated, an electro-magnet, coin-controlled means for energizing the electro-magnet, a pivoted armature for the electro-magnet, counterweighting-means to normally draw the armature away from the electro-magnet, an automatic holding device for holding said counterweight means in raised position, switches and connections closed with energization of the electro-magnet and motoroperated substitute means for holding the counterweight raised, releasing the previous support and permitting the counterweight to lower.

14. In a device of the character stated, a radio exhibiting device containing radio apparatus and motor circuits therefrom having normally open switches in the circuits, means for closing said switches electromagnetically, means for mechanically holding them in closed position, motor-o erated means for releasing the holding mec anism and for subsequently allowing the switches to be opened, a signal and connections from sad motor-operated means whereby said switch is closed by movement of the motoroperated means.

JOSEPH PINTO. 

